Inline Solids Conditioner and Pre-Wetter

ABSTRACT

A tube-in-tube inline solids conditioner and pre-wetter. The conditioner has three concentric tubes. A first ingredient is fed into an inner tube. A second ingredient is fed into an outer tube. The middle tube has a flared nozzle to form a tear drop flow with the second ingredient that surrounds the first ingredient. A vacuum chamber is formed between the middle tube and the inner tube. The cocoon and the vacuum prevent the formation of condensation inside the conditioner. The conditioner combines the two ingredients into a mixture that is pumpable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to static mixers. The present invention relates more specifically to pre-wetters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A static mixer is a mixer with no moving parts. The liquids and/or solids are mixed as they flow around the geometry inside the mixer.

It is an objective of the present invention to provide inline, continuous blending of solids and liquids in a single pass through the present invention. It is an objective of the present invention to make the solid pumpable. It is an objective of the present invention to prevent the formation of condensation inside the mixer. It is an objective of the present invention to prevent build-up of solid ingredients inside the mixer. It is an objective of the present invention to prevent heat transfer between layers of the mixer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A tube-in-tube inline solids conditioner and pre-wetter for feeding a static mixer. The conditioner has three concentric tubes. A solid or liquid is fed into an inner tube. A liquid is fed into an outer tube. The middle tube has a flared nozzle to form a cocoon with the liquid from the outer tube that surrounds the inner solid or liquid. A vacuum chamber is formed between the middle tube and the inner tube. The cocoon and the vacuum prevent the formation of condensation inside the mixer, preventing solid ingredients from forming a build-up inside the mixer. The mixer combines the two ingredients into a mixture that is pumpable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is front view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a right-side view of the present.

FIG. 4 is a left-side view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a section view of the present invention taken at line 7-7 of FIG. 2 .

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention comprises an inline solids conditioner and pre-wetter. The conditioner has a tube-in-tube design. The conditioner is installed inline prior to a device with pumping capability. The conditioner pre-wets the solid ingredients before the ingredients are fed into a pump. The pre-wetting allows the mixture to be pumpable and to be mixed in a single pass.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8 , the present invention comprises an inline solids conditioner and pre-wetter 100. The condition 100 includes an inner housing 101, middle housing 102, outer housing 103, and a clamp 104. The inner housing 101 is a straight tube with a collar for connecting to the clamp 104. The inner housing 101 has an inlet 105 at the top and an outlet 110 at the bottom. In alternate embodiments, the inner housing 101 has multiple inlets 105, allowing multiple solids to be fed simultaneously. The middle housing 102 surrounds the inner housing 101. The middle housing 102 has a vacuum port 106. The middle housing 102 has a tapered shape 108 to create a seal around the lower end of the inner housing 101. The middle housing 102 outlet has a flared nozzle 109. The outer housing 103 surrounds the middle housing 102 and inner housing 101. The outer housing 103 as a tangential inlet 107. The outer housing 103 includes a surge zone 111. The clamp 104 seals the connection between inner housing 101, middle housing 102, and outer housing 103.

The present invention is installed upstream of a device with pumping capability. Alternatively, the present invention can be installed to feed directly into a vessel. To use the invention, a first ingredient in solid or liquid form is gravity fed into inlet 105 of inner housing 101. A second ingredient in liquid form is fed into tangential inlet 107 of outer housing 103. A vacuum hose is connected to vacuum port 106. A vacuum is formed inside the middle housing 102 around the upper portion of the inner housing 101. The vacuum prevents condensation from forming on the outer surface of the inner housing 101. The vacuum also prevents air from being mixed with the ingredients. As the second ingredient flows over the flared nozzle 109 of the middle housing 102, the second ingredient is spread to form a tear drop shape around the flow of the first ingredient exiting the inner housing 101. Due to the tear drop shape, the first ingredient and second ingredient are mixed downstream from the flared nozzle 109 in the surge zone 111, preventing a build-up of the ingredients on the nozzle 109. The surge (transition) zone 111 can be sized to regulate the flow of the mixture into the pump, preventing the mixture from backing up into the conditioner. The resulting mixture is a pumpable mixture of the two ingredients. The pumpable mixture is then fed into a pump.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A conditioner comprising: an outer housing; a middle housing, comprising a flared nozzle; and an inner housing.
 2. The conditioner of claim 1, wherein the middle housing encloses the inner housing.
 3. The conditioner of claim 2, wherein the outer housing encloses the middle housing and encloses the inner housing.
 4. The conditioner of claim 2, wherein the middle housing further comprises a vacuum chamber enclosing the inner housing.
 5. The conditioner of claim 4, wherein the middle housing further comprises a vacuum port opening into the vacuum chamber.
 6. The conditioner of claim 1, wherein the inner housing further comprises an inlet.
 7. The conditioner of claim 1, wherein the outer housing further comprises a liquid inlet.
 8. The conditioner of claim 1, wherein the flared nozzle directs a liquid flow to form a cocoon of liquid.
 9. The conditioner of claim 1, further comprising an outlet connected to a pumping device.
 10. A conditioner comprising: an inner housing; a middle housing, comprising: a flared nozzle; and a vacuum chamber enclosing the inner housing; and an outer housing enclosing the middle housing.
 11. The conditioner of claim 10, wherein the inner housing further comprises a solids inlet.
 12. The conditioner of claim 10, wherein the middle housing further comprises a vacuum port opening into the vacuum chamber.
 13. The conditioner of claim 10, wherein the inner housing further comprises an solids inlet.
 14. The conditioner of claim 10, wherein the outer housing further comprises a liquid inlet.
 15. The conditioner of claim 10, wherein the flared nozzle directs a liquid flow to form a cocoon of liquid.
 16. The conditioner of claim 10, further comprising an outlet connected to a pumping device.
 17. A conditioner comprising: an inner housing; a middle housing, comprising: a flared nozzle; and a vacuum chamber enclosing the inner housing; an outer housing enclosing the middle housing; a solids inlet; a liquid inlet; and a vacuum port.
 18. The conditioner of claim 17, wherein the vacuum port opens into the vacuum chamber.
 19. The conditioner of claim 17, wherein the outer housing further comprises a liquid inlet.
 20. The conditioner of claim 17, wherein the flared nozzle directs a liquid flow to form a cocoon of liquid. 